Even the humble toilet roll holder comes in a minimum of around five different types made from various materials. With wood, ceramic and stainless steel being the most popular.  The first type of design is the kind that is simply a piece of wire mounted horizontally on a hinge that hangs from either the toilet door or wall. This meaning that the roll actually still touches the door or wall and thus enabling the user to use the friction from that connection to tear off a slice or two of the tissues.

A more modern incarnation of the same basic principle includes a curled flat shield that covers the roll, to avoid actually requiring the touching of the roll itself. Then there are the kinds that are either horizontal or vertical that are recessed into the actual wall.

Toilet roll holders are also available as a separate pole on an unattached base, which can be particularly useful in households with members who are right or left handed. Then there is there horizontal axle that is actually positioned on that separate pole with its unattached base.

A manual shower is essentially an adapted mixer tap: water temperature and flow rates are controlled by different taps, or by a single lever control. Thermostatic showers have an integral adjuster which responds to water temperature, automatically reducing hot or cold flow depending on the temperature you set. 

Begin by removing a length of plasterboard and cutting notches in the studwork where you want the hot and cold copper pipes to run (if you’re simply replacing a pre-existing shower, just connect the tap/spray to the pipes after removing the old one). Assemble and mount the tap on the wall in the position you need it and mark where the pipes will connect.

Run the hot water pipe by branching out from the vent pipe above the hot water cylinder. The cold water pipe needs to be taken from the pipe work below the outlet that feeds the hot water system. If you’re not sure about this, a plumber will install the copper for you, although his services will add to the overall costs! Connect the hot and cold pipes to the tap with the fittings supplied. Replace the strip of plaster, tile over and enjoy your new shower.

Shower enclosures take up less room than a bath, this helps when space inside the bathroom is at a premium. Showers are also cheaper to run than baths as less hot water is used per wash. This could be of help to those who are living within a tight budget each month. It is also the reason why those on a water meter often choose showers over baths.

The additional floor space gained by having a shower enclosure as opposed to a bath means that bathroom furniture, such as bathroom cabinets, could be used as extra storage space. A free standing bathroom cabinet is perfect in smaller bathrooms as it can be moved whenever needed to best utilize the area available.

Compared to taking a bath, a shower enclosure stays warmer longer, as the hot water fills the shower enclosure with steam and the space stays hot until the water is turned off. With a bath the water is cooling down immediately, and often a top up of more hot water is needed before the bathing has ended.

Shower enclosures can be as simple or as stylish as required; there are various designs to suit all styles of house and decor. Again, for those on a budget, plain square shower trays and regular shower doors can be bought cheaply from most DIY stores and are relatively simple to fit.

Most modern baths are made from plastic acrylic material which makes them relatively inexpensive but still very strong and easy to maintain. The main difference is that an acrylic bath is light and so it is easier to install and it retains the heat better than metal baths. Anyone who has previously used an old metal based bath will soon feel the difference in the bath water temperature. It stays hot longer.

When choosing an acrylic bath shape make sure that you have ample room in your bathroom to site the bath and install all the pipes and other fittings. The arrangement of the holes on the bath for taps is also important and it is vital to make sure that the recommended tap system for the particular bath will suit your water supply.  Make a note of the capacity of the chosen bath and ensure that your hot water tank can supply enough hot water to fill it to a suitable level.   For example, a brand new corner bath which only gets three inches of water in the bottom before the tap runs cold can be a big disappointment.

If you are unsure about the capacity of your hot water system, or have difficulty in imaging just how high the water level would be in the new bath, ask an expert for advice.

Manufacturers of cleaning products have now caught on to the fact that having half a dozen different cleaning products for one room in the house is time consuming, as well as expensive and often messy.  Most will now have a bathroom ‘all in one’ type product that can be used on all surfaces and will clean both dirt and limescale.  Most of these cleaners are also designed to work without too much user effort.

If there is one separate product that it is worth investing in then a product that helps to stop limescale forming on shower cubicles is a good idea. Unless you are happy to clean your shower every day, then this can be a timesaving idea that will involve you spending less time scrubbing and will give you more time to yourself.

You should also take care to stop mould and mildew forming on the grout between your bathroom tiles.  This can happen without you even realising it, but is easily resolved with the use of a good cleaner.  Several of the aforementioned ‘all in one’ cleaners now contain an ingredient that can help remove and prevent the build-up of mould on grout, and regular usage should keep it at bay.

When looking at taps in a showroom inspect the packaging and see if they are up to standard. If this is not clear on the packaging ask if the taps conform to the Water Regulation Advisory Scheme standard.  You need to know if the non-metal parts of the taps conform to the BS 6920 standard and that they are not made using any materials that are hazardous to health.

Check out what the taps are actually made of. Some taps look good, but they are made of a brass and zinc alloy which will not be very hard wearing. If you buy these taps they will soon look dull and need to be replaced in a couple of years.  If you are thinking of buying chrome plated taps the chrome should be at least 40 microns in thickness as anything less will flake off with use.

If you buy bathroom taps which are up to the WRAS standards and have a certificate to say so, they are more likely to be good quality and to be hard wearing. The best of bathroom taps have at least a five year guarantee and if you are considering mixer taps you may even be able to get a lifetime guarantee if you search around among the different brands.

These radiator valves have an element that expands and contracts to increase, or decrease the flow of water by opening and closing the valve. Basically, these thermostatic radiator valves control the temperature in the room by regulating how much hot water goes through the radiator. There is a number on the radiator valve which corresponds to the air temperature in the room and can be set to keep the room temperature constant.

This is an excellent way of preventing a room getting too hot or too cold and if set at the optimum number can save quite a lot of money on the cost of running a central heating system. Thermostatic radiator valves will ensure that you have a warm and cosy bathroom when you get up for work on a cold, frosty morning.

There are a number of thermostatic radiator valves on the market and it should be relatively easy to find one that fits onto your bathroom radiator. Some of these can be fitted to existing radiator valves without the need for a plumber. Costs vary but most radiator valves of this type are quite inexpensive. Generally speaking it should be possible to recoup the cost of the valves in a year by savings made on central heating fuel.

Basins come in a range of styles such as vanity units, wall hung basins, pedestal basins and cloakroom units with variations in size, shape and colour. Most bathroom suppliers will stock a wide range of options which should meet individual budgets, conceptual designs or bathroom size.

Of course, the size of the bathroom is a very important factor. Bathrooms are often amongst the smallest rooms in the house; therefore it makes sense to use all space wisely. It makes sense that the choice of basin style and size should be proportionate to the size of the room. Obviously if you have a larger bathroom, it can accommodate the more experimental or larger basin styles.

You will find that basins are most commonly constructed from ceramic which, with the proper care, is extremely long lasting and hygienic. However, more modern basins are available in glass and steel, although these certainly require more upkeep to maintain their appearance. You could also opt for a marble basin as an impressive feature within your bathroom but this would only be an option if you have a very large budget. Finally, wooden basins have recently come onto the market which may be considered a ‘greener’ option, although in terms of aesthetics it may lose appeal over time when the constant flow of water darkens the wood.

For the majority of bathrooms, a mixture of different lighting methods is crucial. Fluorescent lighting is all well and good, but it fails to provide much of an ambience, while soft illumination makes practical tasks, such as shaving or putting on make-up, difficult.

So called ‘task lighting’ placed over a bathroom mirror makes shaving quick and easy and need not be unattractive. Light bars provide an ideal combination of looks and functionality and do not cost the earth.

Similarly, a centrally positioned light can offer superb ambient effects, vital when enjoying a long, relaxing soak in the bath. Chandeliers are an innovative way to provide such an atmosphere and are cheaper than you might expect. However, it is worthwhile giving some thought to exactly how often you bathe. Too much exposure to steam may damage the fixture after even a short period of time. 

A dimmer switch may offer the perfect solution for those on a limited budget, providing strong light when performing more functional tasks and a softer, intimate illumination for those quieter moments. The trick is to shop around and choose carefully.

A good rule of thumb is to consider the ‘second’ bathroom as being of equal importance to your own. Have a look at your guest bedroom. You will want to complement the bathroom with that of the interior design of the bedroom. Colour schemes and contrasts are easy to achieve and surprisingly affordable.

Storage space is another point to consider. Most guests like to bring personal items that they would never dream of displaying in their own bathroom. So why should they in yours? Baskets with embroidered lids make ideal ways to store things such as towels and a change of bedding or if you are after a more contemporary look, functional metal boxes offer the same type of storage space.

Your guests will want to take a long relaxing bath before dinner and the evening’s activities. Place scented candles around the bath or perhaps tie bouquets of lavender and place strategically around the bathroom.

Finally, invest in high quality showerheads and beautifully finished taps. These little touches will make the guest feel truly welcome. Bringing you guest bathroom up to scratch is a cheap investment in the overall scheme of things.